United Nations Children S Fund (Unicef) s3
UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN’S FUND (UNICEF)
KENYA COUNTRY OFFICE
Communication for Development Officer (Social Transfers and Health)
NO-B
Temporary Appointment
Duration: 12 months
Date of Issue: 23 December, 2013 Closing Date: 06 January, 2014
Applications are hereby invited from suitably qualified candidates to fill the above Temporary position in the Communication for Development Section, UNICEF Kenya, to be based in Kisumu.
Justification
Kakamega County contributes significantly to high burden of child deprivation and under five mortality rates in Kenya due to its high population. It has above-average under-five mortality, with the largest difference being in the child mortality rate (i.e. deaths between one year and five years). However, more than half of child mortality is within the neonatal and infancy period. Factors contributing to the high neo-natal and infant mortality include the low rate of skilled delivery, low rate of ante-natal care, and low rate of contraceptive prevalence. There is a need for interventions in response to the above problem to explore further with an equity lens, other potential causes of high mortality including underlying causes such as gender inequality and violence, as well as specific bottlenecks and barriers to accessing care especially by the poorest and most marginalised women.
Towards addressing the issues articulated above, the Government of Kakamega recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on an initiative aimed at “Setting the Foundation in the First 1000 Days of Life– Accelerating Maternal and Child Survival in Kakamega County” Distinct platforms within the first 1000 days of life are the focus of improving maternal and child survival outcomes in this initiative. This focuses on the prenatal period with a related platforms including antenatal care, community health strategy (addressing barriers including transport, community maternal and new born health information and health seeking behaviours, food/nutrition security, community monitoring/scorecard), skilled delivery (addressing barriers of transport, social cultural, incentive based package for input – mother and baby items), postpartum and young child period from birth to 24 months including a focus in improved access to maternal child health services addressing transport, information/support – mothers to mothers support groups/male involvement and after six months, strategies for improving complementary feeding (fresh food voucher).
The County Government of Kakamega and related implementing partners has established programme efforts to develop effective communication approaches for the project to address the barriers identified during the first thousand dates as detailed in the related documents in a signed memorandum of understanding between UNICEF and The County Government of Kakamega on the 22nd of August, 2013. The period of this MOU is for the period of one year, and this consultancy meets key deliverables of technical support to this project. As per the terms of the MOU, UNICEF is committed to providing technical support in the form of two technical specialists to support the project implementation. It is in this regard that the position of a programme Specialist at NO-B level on Temporary Full Term basis to support the communication component of the project is being proposed.
Scope of Work
Based in the UNICEF Kisumu Field Office, working in full collaboration with focal staff from the County Government of Kakamega, the head of UNICEF Field Office, Kisumu and Nutrition Specialist (IYCN and HIV/AIDS) and Health Specialist, and the technical guidance of the UNICEF KCO Chief of C4D, the the proposed position will support Kakamega County, Sub-counties, Health Facility, and community levels in ‘Setting the Foundation in the First 1000 Days of Life – Accelerating Maternal and Child Survival in Kakamega County’. The position will guide the development of communication strategy for the design to establish mechanisms for the social transfers related to the Child Survival programme including and its implementation and monitoring with the goal of improving programming outcomes including uptake of skilled delivery, IYCN, maternal, newborn and child health. Specifically, it will:
1. Provide technical support for the planning, implementation and monitoring of the communication component of the Kakamega County 1st 1000 days of life cash transfer initiative.
2. Facilitate development of an evidence informed communication strategy for the social transfer to meet the requirements and context of the programme
3. Ensure effective coordination and implementation of the project communication response at all levels of health care delivery
4. Support and guide partnerships for effective evidence based channels of communication and be responsible for designing, roll out and monitoring of multi-channel communication initiatives for the project
5. Establish and oversee mechanism for production and timely distribution of strategic communication materials/packages and institutionalize feedback on its utilisation and effectiveness
6. Provide monthly briefing with UNICEF and county focal staff on progress of work plan outputs Provide technical support, sensitization and capacity development to county and related implement partners to ensure the effective planning, monitor and implementation of the social transfer interventions in order to reach planned targets.
AWP areas covered
• Intermediate Result 1. Increase the proportion of women and children receiving quality evidence-based essential integrated maternal and child care services (see deliverables below),
• Intermediate Result 2. Support 50% of households adopting improved MNCH practices
Expected Deliverables
This technical support needs to achieve the effective design through the inception and initial phase of the implementation of the programme response for the Setting the Foundation in the First 1000 Days of Life – Accelerating Maternal and Child Survival in Kakamega County’.
The following will serve in addition to monthly reports highlighting progress and monitoring on main areas of responsibilities
· Report of a Knowledge, Attitude and Practise study on barriers and positive attributes of health services utilisation specifically MNCH and nutrition services in Kakamega county
· Framework informed by behavioural findings to address some of the operational difficulties in utilisation of health services during pregnancy, delivery and up to 1000 days of life. Based on this framework and design, a work plan to be developed validated by UNICEF and focal county staff with monthly reporting outputs
· Communication Strategy for cash transfers and health service delivery and utilisation with recommended modalities detailed in the approved work plan.
· Quarterly report of progress on implementation
· Monthly written briefings on progress against work plan.
· Report of monthly coordination meetings held at county level, and action points implemented against performance targets
Desired background and experience
University degree in Health Education, Social sciences, Communication, Public health, or equivalent with proven experience of planning, implementing and monitoring of communication intervention at sub national ad community level required.. Good communication and analytical skills and good knowledge of social transfers, health or development communication and coordination highly desired. Good knowledge of monitoring and impact assessment of communication outcomes is required.
At least 2-3 years of experience in the related field with specific skills in health interventions communication is necessary.
Conditions (Important)
The contract will be a Temporary Appointment. Salaries and benefits will follow UNICEF regulations for NOB level positions
Competencies
· Communication
· Drive for Results
· Formulating Strategies and Concepts
· Relating and Networking
· Persuading and Influencing
· Applying Technical Expertise
· Learning & Research
· Working with People
· Planning and Organizing
Languages: Fluency in English. Knowledge of Kiswahili would be an asset.
Conditions (Important)
The contract will be a Temporary Appointment. Salaries and benefits will follow UNICEF regulations for NOB level positions
Position will be based in Kisumu, with designated days per week in Kakamega County)
Interested and suitable candidates should ensure that they forward their applications along with their curricula vitae, to;
The Human Resources Manager
UNICEF Kenya Country Office
Email address:
Please indicate Reference No. “KCO/C4D/2013/022” in the email subject.
Interested candidates should also complete the Personal History (P11) form, which can be downloaded from the UNICEF Kenya website (http://www.unicef.org/kenya).
“QUALIFIED FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY”
ZERO TOLERANCE FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE
UNICEF IS A SMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENT